October 12, 2025 a 09:00 am
COST: Analysts Ratings - Costco Wholesale Corporation
Costco Wholesale Corporation continues to receive favorable evaluations from analysts, showing stable sentiment over recent months. The company, with its diverse product offering across numerous international locations, remains a robust investment choice amid varying market conditions. Analysts demonstrate confidence in its consistent performance with a strong tendency towards 'Buy' recommendations.
Historical Stock Grades
| Rating | Count | Score Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Strong Buy | 3 | |
| Buy | 18 | |
| Hold | 14 | |
| Sell | 1 | |
| Strong Sell | 0 |
Sentiment Development
Analyzing trends over recent months, there is a noticeable gradual increase in the 'Hold' ratings, indicating some caution among analysts. The 'Strong Buy' recommendations have fluctuated, peaking mid-year, but now showing a slight decline. The consistent number of 'Buy' ratings highlights an overall positive sentiment with prevalent confidence in the stock's performance.
- Total reviews each month have remained steady, showcasing sustained interest in Costco's market performance.
- The biggest change observed is the decline in 'Strong Buy' ratings, likely revealing cautious optimism.
- 'Hold' ratings have seen a steady rise, suggesting increased analyst prudence.
Percentage Trends
Throughout the analysis period, the majority of recommendations have been positive, trending mostly towards 'Buy'. However, a discernible shift towards 'Hold' ratings indicates some emerging uncertainty. Despite this, pessimistic ratings such as 'Sell' and 'Strong Sell' remain minimal, reflecting overall market confidence.
- The 'Strong Buy' ratings have decreased from 9 to 3 over the months, marking a significant downtrend.
- 'Hold' ratings increased from 9 to 14, pointing to growing caution.
- 'Buy' recommendations have shown little volatility, maintaining stability.
- The percentage of 'Sell' and 'Strong Sell' remains negligible, underpinning dominant optimism.
Latest Analyst Recommendations
Recent analyst activity largely maintains the current sentiment, with no new shifts in opinions. Continuity in ratings such as 'Neutral' and 'Buy' suggests stability in market confidence for Costco's stock.
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-09 | Neutral | Neutral | Mizuho |
| 2025-09-29 | Buy | Buy | Argus Research |
| 2025-09-29 | Neutral | Neutral | Citigroup |
| 2025-09-26 | Hold | Hold | Truist Securities |
| 2025-09-26 | Outperform | Outperform | Oppenheimer |
Analyst Recommendations with Change of Opinion
While most ratings remain consistent, there are notable downgrades over the analysis period, reflecting some caution and strategic adjustments in market outlook. It is important to monitor these slight changes as they can indicate broader market trends.
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-24 | Hold | Buy | Truist Securities |
| 2024-09-10 | Neutral | Buy | Redburn Atlantic |
| 2023-12-20 | Neutral | Buy | Northcoast Research |
| 2023-03-07 | Buy | Neutral | Northcoast Research |
| 2023-03-06 | Buy | Neutral | Northcoast Research |
Interpretation
The overall market sentiment towards Costco's stock is predominantly positive, with the prevalence of 'Buy' and 'Hold' ratings. Analysts maintain confidence in its ability to withstand market fluctuations, although some recent downgrades indicate a cautious approach. Despite minor shifts, the sentiment remains stable, suggesting resilience in Costco's business model and growth prospects.
Conclusion
Costco's stock continues to be largely supported by analysts, as indicated by the steady presence of 'Buy' ratings. The gradual increase in 'Hold' recommendations suggests a cautious but stable market view. The company’s consistent performance and strong business model appear to sustain confidence, while minor sentiment shifts highlight the importance of close monitoring of market conditions. This indicates a balanced outlook with Costco stock being a steady investment with potential for continued growth.